News Links - 4/14/07

[dleedlee]

Tsai Chin - in concert


Zhang Ziyi


Leon Lai Holds Vocal Concert in HK
http://english.cri.cn/3086/2007/04/14/60@216154.htm

Mainland TV Drama to Mark 10th Anniversary of HK's Return
http://english.cri.cn/3086/2007/04/14/60@216180.htm

Fake power - PLA licence plates forgery
http://www.thestandard.com.hk/weekend_n ... r=20070407

The essence of Hong Kong
http://www.thestandard.com.hk/weekend_n ... r=20070407

Golden Week tarnished by fake jewelry claims
http://www.thestandard.com.hk/news_deta ... r=20070407
First charges laid for fake jewelry rip-off
http://www.thestandard.com.hk/news_deta ... con_type=3


Hair Measuring 2.42 Metres
http://english.cri.cn/3100/2007/04/13/63@215784.htm

Will Sturgeon Echo Dolphin Tragedy in Yangtze River?
http://english.cri.cn/2906/2007/04/13/53@215942.htm

[Brian Thibodeau]

Golden Week tarnished by fake jewelry claims
http://www.thestandard.com.hk/news_deta ... r=20070407
First charges laid for fake jewelry rip-off
http://www.thestandard.com.hk/news_deta ... con_type=3

From that story:

A Harbin tourist, identified as Mr Wang, alleged he had paid HK$80,000 for a watch which he had been assured was a famous French brand.

He said he later found out from the Internet that the brand did not exist, so he returned to the shop earlier this year to question the manager.

However, Wang alleged he was persuaded to exchange the watch and pay a further HK$20,000 in cash for two other watches, a Vacheron Constantin and an Omega. He claimed both later turned out to be fakes.

Still determined, Wang alleged he then paid a further HK$20,000 to exchange both watches for a diamond- studded Vacheron Constantin.

Wang said a jewelry shop in Beijing then told him that only the core of the watch was real and had a value of about HK$10,000, resulting in a total loss of about HK$120,000

When I think that there are wealthy people out there who are this gullible, I realize I'm definitely in the wrong line of work!

Of course, even in my own backyard (and as reported in the newspaper I work for!), I think my gweilo heritage would keep me out of the business!
http://www.yorkregion.com/article/18827

more on the story:
http://www.thestar.com/article/203054
"But the alleged fraud artists did their homework, said Kerr – somehow reproducing the water marks often set into the fibre of the paper used in the degrees, as well as other fake-busting details included on the back of some documents."
"The counterfeit ring advertised over the Internet in Chinese, including a price list with jazzy lightning bolts beside each item for sale and the breathless headline "Best Price! Best Service! Fastest!""


.

[dleedlee]

Yeah, you got to wonder about that Harbin tourist. Three times? It sounds like a comedy sketch from SNL or MadTV.

In your article:
Yet universities note that these fakes prove the value of a Canadian degree. Shocked, but proud!

[Brian Thibodeau]

Yet universities note that these fakes prove the value of a Canadian degree. Shocked, but proud!

Yeah, that kinda jumped out at me! We're a rather oblivious bunch up here sometimes!

I also liked this line from the other story:

"He urged anyone who has concerns about the validity of their diplomas to contact the university or college registrar’s office."

I have this sneaking suspicion that these "degrees" are not actually being used very much by people already in Canada, particularly when they're advertised on a Chinese-language website. If you "suspect" your degree is a fake, you probably already KNOW it's a fake, because you bought it off of a website and didn't actually go to school to earn it!

[dleedlee]

I remember watching A Fortress Besieged, a mainland TV series featuring Chen Dao Ming. Set in pre-war Shanghai, he returns from the US with a fake degree. Everyone thinks he's a great scholar and he's feted at his home village, then he's called to give a lecture on his observations of America in front of the community. In fact, he's a lazy, lady's man. Entertaining series and also costars Ge You.

The title refers to the saying, Marriage is like a fortress beseiged. Those on the outside want to get in, those on the inside want to get out.

[Brian Thibodeau]

I remember watching A Fortress Besieged, a mainland TV series featuring Chen Dao Ming. Set in pre-war Shanghai, he returns from the US with a fake degree. Everyone thinks he's a great scholar and he's feted at his home village, then he's called to give a lecture on his observations of America in front of the community. In fact, he's a lazy, lady's man. Entertaining series and also costars Ge You.

The title refers to the saying, Marriage is like a fortress beseiged. Those on the outside want to get in, those on the inside want to get out.

Interesting stuff. Sounds like the whole concept is nothing new, then! There's probably a deleted scene somewhere where he travels to pre-war Toronto to buy his fake degree.

[dleedlee]

There was a scene, but I think he bought it in NYC! We can make fake diplomas, too, Canada! U-S-A! U-S-A!